Opinion: There’s no returning back to normal after COVID-19

By now, we are all familiar with the current pandemic that has affected millions of lives. COVID-19 is a change we were not expecting and it has been drawn out longer than anyone anticipated. As more new information about the virus circulates on the media, the more people become increasingly restless.

People are longing to return back to “normal” life. The light at the end of the tunnel doesn’t seem so clear now. The promise of the return to normalcy is thrown around by our politicians and leaders leaving us with the impression that once this is all over we will have the life we knew before the pandemic, but this a promise that is not going to hold up.

We are far from returning back to the life we knew before the pandemic. Our society will be forever changed by this event.

As businesses and venues begin to reopen, we see our new reality is staring us in the face. New precautionary measures such as social distancing in restaurants, limiting capacity at social venues and wearing face protection when doing day-to-day activities is a way of living that we will be seeing for a while. The way we’re used to interacting and greeting new people with handshakes and hugs will change, the way we operate within our workplaces with colleagues and customers will look different, the way schools and universities are structured and facilitate learning to students will shift and our Friday night outings to parties and get-togethers won’t be the same.

In the beginning of the quarantine order, I was optimistic about the idea that within a few weeks the situation would sort itself out. I pictured the day in my mind — we would get the “okay” to go back outdoors and I would be able to resume normal activities as if nothing had happened. But the more the days turned into weeks and weeks into months, I noticed there was no way to come out of this the same way we, as a nation, entered it.

This realization struck me when I listened to a podcast episode on the “Highest Self Podcast.” Host Sahara Rose and her interviewee Malaika Darville had a discussion on the doubts, heightened fears and the reality of the pandemic and how we can maximize this time given to cultivate ourselves in order to return to the new world we are about to experience. After highlighting the deadly virus that wiped out groups of indigenous people during the colonization era, Darville says our fate is similar to those of indigenous communities: a complete culture change.

“Don’t think that we’re gonna like … if the thing, lockdown, is lifted tomorrow, life goes back to as it was.” Darville said, “This is a turning point. This is a big ass turning point in the human history collectively right now.”

Although life as we know it will look drastically different once we, as a nation, discover how to combat this unfamiliar and foreign virus, I believe this is going to be a good change. It’s hard to accept that our “normal” way of doing things is not the status quo anymore, but that’s the thing about growth. It’s ugly at the beginning, harder in the middle and rewarding in the end. We will get to the other side as a new country.

Aaliyah Alexander is a freshman studying journalism. Follow her on Twitter @aaliyahdanyell.

3 Responses to “Opinion: There’s no returning back to normal after COVID-19”

kraig on
May 12th, 2020 7:22 pm

Of course a freshman in college is speaking about the change. You, and those in your age range, have been raised to have more fear, anxiety and uncertainty in your life then those who are a bit older and had to deal with their problems, without Big Brother, telling you what to do. One day you will say, “I remember the day….”. Your generation will have to stand up one day and say enough is enough. Look at both sides and don’t let a total liberal agenda be your guiding. I’ve stood arm and arm with my mom protesting Pro Life for women’s choice when few men did. I also spoke up against my union (teachers) as not all candidates they support I did, based on my own research and decisions.

This is not about culture so don’t make it that. We live in a class society, which has always been the case. Sleeping on the floor growing up, being kicked out of our living space since my dad did not pay the rent, mom working to not be on welfare but still instilled we become politically socialized. Not so much the case today. Families don’t sit down and talk at dinner. We did and we didn’t all agree. Made me open my eyes and say, “NO”.

If you see me I won’t be wearing a mask. You can cross the street or shame me for not. I’m not a senior or someone with health conditions so please don’t judge me. I want to live and respect your life too. I hope you took this for what it was meant to be…an open opinion also. I’m also at Aztec….!!!! ” I believe we will win”.

John Swanbrook on
May 15th, 2020 2:57 pm

It amazes me how brainwashed you are. In the case of every other illness in mankind’s history, after it runs its course, things go back to normal. If you think that somehow this time is different, you have been watching too much TV, probably CNN or local news.

This is about control. I implore you not to be part and parcel to it. I for one refuse to, and so do an increasing amount of Americans. The people won’t stand for this oppression extending permanently.

Tanya Sara Estelle Fillbrook on
May 27th, 2020 5:45 am

Yes, I intend to do just that, thank you very much. I have to let off some much needed steam.

Firstly, Nobody wants people to die from Covid – 19, albeit there is one group of people, of the lowest lowlife of which I have no concern for or respect for. But usual, everyday people don’t deserve to die from this awful disease.

However, the ”R” rate has been decreasing for a while now and yes, we should stay alert.
We should also however remove all the scaremongering, dictatorship, and indoctrination mouthed out verbally, or written upon every surface you can imagine.
I am angry about all the adverts displaying unnecessary slogans, and family friendly nonsense.
The Health Minister’s men have made people scared. It’s as simple as that.

I don’t think it’s right to allow small children back to school if they are unable to feel close, and insecure. Children need cuddles.

The ”PC” brigade have been on our backs for the past eight years or so, drumming unnatural mad messages into our heads such as the ”no clapping” in schools for fear of upsetting students [Jazz hands only!].
Banning school games etc.

Some of us want to go back to normal; so we will!
Which country will be the first to live in a normal society?
When can all groups stand together and socialise normally?
If the rate of infection decreases further, then surely, before Christmas might be a good time, or would there be too many bodies getting close and heating up the environment?

However, I am happy that the animal species have thrived, and the air and rivers have become cleaner for a while, but we have to now get on with our lives.
I think there are too many snowflakes in this world.
We have been brainwashed, so I will not be wearing a mask, and I’d like to get back on a bus soon because it takes me to places a pushbike can’t like ancient buildings, and far away cities, [We don’t drive.]
I also think people will be jumping out of the way for fear of getting the virus for years to come even when this is all over!
No more brainwashing needed.

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